24 Seven September2018

Lorie Gardner
IS PUTTING
YOURSELF
FIRST SELFISH
OR CAN IT
IMPROVE YOUR
HEALTH AND
WELLBEING?
Do you ever feel like everyone and everything
comes before you and your needs? I believe
this is a common feeling, which some of us
are aware of and some of us may not be. In
our hurried and fast paced society, it seems
we barely have time to breathe and finish
our “to do” list let alone consider what our
needs may be to feel good.
In order to achieve overall wellbeing, it is
essential to care for oneself. If proper self
care is not given it can create stress and
burnout as well as the onset of physical
ailments. This is why it is the foundation of
overall wellbeing.
In our wellness program, we call this Self-
Responsibility and Love. We have all
heard our flight attendants give our safety
instructions as we prepare for a flight
departure. They emphasize that in the
event of an emergency, if you are traveling
with young children, the parent should put
their oxygen mask on first so that they are
prepared to help their children. It is equally
essential as you “fly” through your life that
you always remember to provide yourself
the needed oxygen to achieve balance and
wellbeing.
What happens if you put yourself last on
the list of priorities and items to care for?
Frequently, stress levels soar, health declines,
relationships are challenged.
Realizing that you are unique and resourceful
as well as being the expert about yourself
is so important. To experience you as your
own best friend, and remaining faithful
to yourself, especially in tough times, is
essential for overall wellbeing. Once you
master this dimension of wellness you
have set the foundation to move to other
dimensions and start to enhance your
wellbeing and begin to make any needed
health behavior changes.
Part of Self-Responsibility is self-acceptance.
This is where there is an awareness that we all
have strengths and weaknesses and a light
side and a dark side. It is important to accept
all of who we are and not be judgmental of
our weaknesses or dark side. Being well
means we accept those weaknesses and are
open to change and improvement.
When your own health and wellbeing
becomes a priority the following should be
part of your life:
• You become an active participant in any
healthcare you receive
• You get between seven to eight hours of
sleep per night
• You protect yourself from any hazards that
might cause poor health or wellbeing
• When you experience pain or dis-ease, you
take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate
your lifestyle and environment to determine
a cause
• Accept that there will be times you are outof-balance,
vulnerable, or in need
• An understanding that it is possible to
discover wellbeing in the midst of serious or
chronic illness
• You can distinguish between accepting
responsibility for a problem and blaming
yourself for it
• You love yourself and other people
As you practice more Self-Responsibility and
Love, you should experience more peace
and balance and have improved wellbeing.
This can position you begin to achieve any
changes you desire in your life.
Jacqui Atcheson is a certified divorce coach and certified divorce mediator who works with clients starting at the earliest stages of divorce.
She helps them gain clarity about what they want, control over their future, and peace of mind knowing they made the best possible
decisions. Her passion for helping others through divorce began as a personal mission in 1979 and became her profession in 1996.
www.betterpathtodivorce.com